Carbon sinks are becoming Carbon sinks are becoming more relevantmore relevant

- challenges for forest research and university training- challenges for forest research and university training

Veli PohjonenVeli PohjonenTana-Beles WME projectTana-Beles WME project

University of HelsinkiUniversity of Helsinki

Discussion in Discussion in

Debre Birhan UniversityDebre Birhan University

8 December 20128 December 2012

COCO22 in our air in our air

Despite climate conventions in Kyoto, Despite climate conventions in Kyoto, Copenhagen and Doha (Qatar):Copenhagen and Doha (Qatar):

COCO22 concentration of the air is rising concentration of the air is rising

12 per cent in Kyoto period 1990 – 201212 per cent in Kyoto period 1990 – 2012

No effect from CONo effect from CO22 emission reductions emission reductions

Carbon dioxide in accelerating increaseCarbon dioxide in accelerating increase

Two ways to combatTwo ways to combat

Through the Through the sourcessources: reduce CO: reduce CO22 emissions. Tried during Kyoto periodemissions. Tried during Kyoto period

Through the Through the sinkssinks: increase Carbon : increase Carbon

Offsets to trees and soils. Largely Offsets to trees and soils. Largely unexplored.unexplored.

Carbon Offsets via treesCarbon Offsets via trees

Conserve and manage the existing Conserve and manage the existing natural forestsnatural forests

Establish (large) block plantationsEstablish (large) block plantations

Agroforests , forest farmsAgroforests , forest farms

Average Amhara smallholder farm: Average Amhara smallholder farm: assume 1500 agroforestry trees (stems); how much carbon is assume 1500 agroforestry trees (stems); how much carbon is

Offsetted in a year, how many Birr is it worth of?Offsetted in a year, how many Birr is it worth of?

Tana-Beles average farms (8): Tana-Beles average farms (8): Birr value of Offsetted Carbon Birr value of Offsetted Carbon

Carbon Offset in one year B-A = Carbon Offset in one year B-A = 0.672 tn C/farm/yr0.672 tn C/farm/yr

Price of Carbon 556 Birr/tn CPrice of Carbon 556 Birr/tn C

Value of Offsetted Carbon: 373 Value of Offsetted Carbon: 373 Birr/yr/farm Birr/yr/farm

How potential Carbon trading 373 Birr/yr/farm How potential Carbon trading 373 Birr/yr/farm compares to smallholder farm annual sales? compares to smallholder farm annual sales?

University research & training University research & training challenges 1challenges 1

Improved agroforestry in Ethiopian Improved agroforestry in Ethiopian farmsfarms

Forest inventory and managementForest inventory and management

Carbon inventory and managementCarbon inventory and management

Carbon tradingCarbon trading

More tradable carbon into soilsMore tradable carbon into soils

Tree planting immediate way to Tree planting immediate way to increase carbon in smallholder farms increase carbon in smallholder farms (above ground)(above ground)

How to increase and store carbon in How to increase and store carbon in smallholder farm soils (below ground)?smallholder farm soils (below ground)?

BiocharBiochar (developed charcoal) has (developed charcoal) has huge potential huge potential

Poor soil (left) transformed into Poor soil (left) transformed into fertile fertile Terra pretaTerra preta, using biochar, using biochar

(source Wikipedia : Biochar)(source Wikipedia : Biochar)

Biochar stores carbonBiochar stores carbon

Biochar was invented by Amazonian indians Biochar was invented by Amazonian indians 2000 years ago (2000 years ago (Terra preta Terra preta soils)soils)

Biochar is added to cultivated soils like limeBiochar is added to cultivated soils like lime Biochar remains in the soil without Biochar remains in the soil without

decomposing, similarly to coaldecomposing, similarly to coal Biochar makes permanent carbon sinkBiochar makes permanent carbon sink Made via pyrolysis from forest residuesMade via pyrolysis from forest residues Increment of biochar to smallholder farm Increment of biochar to smallholder farm

soils can be added to Carbon tradingsoils can be added to Carbon trading

Biochar – ultimate Watershed Biochar – ultimate Watershed management agentmanagement agent

Soil acidity decreasesSoil acidity decreases Cation exchange capacity increases, leaching of Cation exchange capacity increases, leaching of

nutrients decreasesnutrients decreases Soil microbial activity increases, more nitrogen Soil microbial activity increases, more nitrogen

is retained in the soilis retained in the soil Fysical soil particle structure for crops improvesFysical soil particle structure for crops improves Soil water retention capacity improvesSoil water retention capacity improves

=> Crop yields are raised in sustained manner=> Crop yields are raised in sustained manner

University research & training University research & training challenges 2challenges 2

Biochar production, optimized forest Biochar production, optimized forest managementmanagement

Biochar production technologyBiochar production technology Biochar in Ethiopian soil & water Biochar in Ethiopian soil & water

conservationconservation Biochar in Carbon trading Biochar in Carbon trading

Environmental friendliness, eco-efficiencyEnvironmental friendliness, eco-efficiency

Biological sinks becoming more important in Biological sinks becoming more important in combat against climate changecombat against climate change

Carbon Offsets trade encourages farmers to Carbon Offsets trade encourages farmers to plant more treesplant more trees

Planting of trees on most eroded sites Planting of trees on most eroded sites increasesincreases

Biochar sustains and improves agricultural Biochar sustains and improves agricultural soil fertilitysoil fertility

Carbon sequestration and trading becoming Carbon sequestration and trading becoming essential component in Watershed essential component in Watershed managementmanagement

Building the Carbon TowersBuilding the Carbon Towers

Smallholder tree planting is on a good drive in Smallholder tree planting is on a good drive in Ethiopia, especially in Amhara regionEthiopia, especially in Amhara region

Farmers are motivated especially after Farmers are motivated especially after successful steps in land tenure and certificationsuccessful steps in land tenure and certification

Ethiopia is already converting into Carbon Tower Ethiopia is already converting into Carbon Tower of African Horn. This accelerates with Carbon of African Horn. This accelerates with Carbon tradingtrading

Trees – Biochar - Carbon towers – Sinks are Trees – Biochar - Carbon towers – Sinks are becoming more important in the coming UN becoming more important in the coming UN climate conventions.climate conventions.

International climate-based funding obviousInternational climate-based funding obvious

Carbon Tower gets greenerCarbon Tower gets greener

Thank youThank you

veli.pohjonen@gmail.com

http://veli.pohjonen.org